Qantas is to operate its inaugural A380 flight from Sydney to Johannesburg on September 30, 2024.
The A380 will fly up to six times per week between the two cities and will nearly double capacity between Australia and Africa every year.
“We are seeing strong demand for our Johannesburg services and, by upgrading to the Superjumbo, we will nearly double capacity during peak periods, adding over 130,000 seats per year between the continents,” said Cam Wallace, Qantas International CEO. “Qantas has a rich history of flying to South Africa over the past 72 years, having operated Constellations and Super Constellations, Electras, 707s, 747s, Dreamliners and now the A380.”
Along with the new A380 service, Qantas has also entered a codeshare agreement with Johannesburg-based carrier Airlink, expanding its network in South Africa.
Wallace added: “This extra capacity, combined with our new codeshare with Airlink, will significantly expand the options for Qantas customers heading to Africa, strengthening the connections between family and friends, business and trade as well as supporting the tourism industry on both sides of the Indian Ocean.”
In addition, the national carrier also intends to relaunch direct flights from Perth to Johannesburg from mid-2025.